NAACP schedules events for Black History Month

ORANGE, NJ — The Oranges-Maplewood NAACP has organized free screenings of the documentary “Hidden Colors” at libraries in Orange, East Orange, West Orange, South Orange and Maplewood throughout February in honor of Black History Month. This documentary is not to be confused with the film of the same name currently showing in theaters.

“This year, our unit will once again conduct public workshops at local libraries, to celebrate the accomplishments and cultural heights that the people of the African Diaspora have achieved,” said Orange-Maplewood NAACP President Tom Puryear on Monday, Jan. 30. “‘Hidden Colors’ is a documentary about the real and untold history of people of color around the globe. The film discusses some of the reasons the contributions of African, African Americans and aboriginal people have been omitted from the pages of history.”

The documentary is scheduled to be screened at the following venues: West Orange Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; South Orange Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 2 to 4:30 p.m.; East Orange Public Library on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m.; and Orange Public Library on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Puryear added that, “There will be an opportunity to discuss the presentation with local representatives after each presentation.”

While there is a significant difference between the documentary screened at the libraries and film of the same name that has been nominated this year for an Academy Award for Best Picture, Puryear said the two films both celebrating black history and the contributions of African-Americans to society.

“The film depicts scholars, historians and social commentators, who have uncovered such amazing facts about historical events that include: the original image of Christ; the true story of the Moors; the original people of Asia; the great west African empires; the presence of Africans in America before Christopher Columbus; and the real reason slavery was ended in America,” said Puryear. “The film features interviews with Shahrazad Ali, Sabir Bey, Dr. Booker T. Coleman Umar Johnson, Dr. Phil Valentine, Dr. Frances Cress-Welsing and Tariq Nasheed.”

In addition to the documentary screenings, the Oranges-Maplewood NAACP two parenting workshops, on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at First Baptist Church, 103 Valley St., South Orange; and Wednesday, March 8, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the same location.

“Parent to School Pipeline Workshops” will feature a presentation by Andrea Lewis, the director of the Regional Achievement Center.

“Come out to find out what skills or parents need, in order to effectively advocate for their child’s academic success,” said Puryear. “We will be asking and answering questions, including: What must parents know to promote the best academic placement for their children and How can parents effectively communicate with their children’s teacher?”

For more information about the Oranges-Maplewood NAACP and its schedule of Black History Month events, call 973-675-5325 or email [email protected]. For more information about the parenting workshops, call 973-763-8593.

  Black History Month, Oranges-Maplewood NAACP, Tom Puryear